ABSTRACT
This essay discusses the potential of biotechnology to improve the health and nutrition of consumers in developing countries. In the relatively wealthy countries of Europe, North America and elsewhere, consumers spend perhaps 10 per cent of their income on food. For the most part consumers in developed countries are free of classical nutrient deficiencies, although over-consumption is a problem for some. Also in relatively wealthy countries there is, in general, good access to affordable medical care to meet health needs, and most consumers in rich countries have access to a relatively inexpensive supply of safe and healthy food. In these settings, the possibility that biotechnology might reduce the price of food or make food more beneficial to health is a relatively minor concern. Rather, public debate about genetically modified foods (GMFs) appears to have focused on the potential for harm to either the environment or health without a clear definition of benefit to the consumer.
